For the past week, the 200 plus members of the BDF youth cadet have been at the Corozal Community College learning about discipline from the volunteer element of the BDF. But the young men and women have also been having fun and learning about what it’s like to be away from home on something like an extended field trip that’s no vacation. Jacqueline Godwin visited yesterday.
Lt. Col Edmund Zuniga, Commander - BDF Volunteer Element
“While we are not teaching them to be soldiers, it is a structured program in which we try to practice to learn discipline and learn to march and stand to attention when they talk to you and to learn some skills that they can use in their personal lives. It has been a challenge for a lot of them.”
That’s because many of these young cadets have never been away from home for any extended period and so it’s normal for them to be homesick.
Jacqueline Godwin,
I understand you guys miss Mommy though. You want to tell mommy something?
Hipolito Tzib, BDF Youth Cadet
“I love her.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
And you Robert?
Robert Bradley, BDF Youth Cadet
“I love her and my dad too.”
Lt. Col Edmund Zuniga,
“Actually we started out with 262 cadets at camp and I said we started
out because today we have 260 because two went home. They decided that they wouldn’t be away from home for any length of time.”
But for those who did manage to adapt to the new environment and all of the challenges, the past six days have been a learning experience for them.
Sean Stezaker, BDF Youth Cadet
“This morning we got up at five o’clock and we did drills.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Was it difficult?
Sean Stezaker,
“Not really.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Is it hard getting up so early in the morning?
Sean Stezaker,
“Yes.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Is this something you would like to continue doing?
Sean Stezaker,
“Yes. I like it because I want to be a soldier.”
In April, the Belize Defence Force Volunteer Element started recruiting the youths between the ages of ten and sixteen to be members of its Youth Cadet Corp. They have been learning the basic skills required to be a young BDF cadet including survival skills such as first aid.
On Thursday, the Minister of National Security Carlos Perdomo visited with
the cadets at the Corozal Community College where they have been based. Perdomo is encouraged by what he has seen.
Hon. Carlos Perdomo, Minister of National Security
“The sixteen, seventeen, eighteen year olds shooting on the streets, ten years ago were six, seven, and eight. If we had done some kind of intervention, not only at National Security but everywhere, in the schools, in the social services, in the community, in the scouts, in the guides – it would be a tremendous change. If you notice the program, it is about physical skills, it is about waking up at 5 in the morning, it is about map reading, learning geography, it is about playing chess, and being playful as children should be but at the same time it is in a discipline environment.”
Akeem Thomas, BDF Youth Cadet
“Actually I join the BDF cadet to learn discipline and to stay away
from the streets and violence.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
Has it been working?
Akeem Thomas,
“I think so.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What have you been learning?
Akeem Thomas,
“Well we’ve been learning self-control and self-discipline.”
Raheem Mariano, BDF Youth Cadet
“This is fun and you learn a lot of things, you experience places that you’ve never seen before.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What has it been like on your first annual camp?
Raheem Mariano,
“This is my first annual camp and it is very fun and I plan to stay in it.”
Javier Manzanero, BDF Youth Cadet
“It is to be respectful and have some discipline.”
Jacqueline Godwin,
What have you been learning?
Javier Manzanero,
“How to march and salute.”
Kadeem Augustine, BDF Youth Cadet
“From when I was small I always wanted to be a pilot and my mom told me it is a easier way to get through to being a pilot by the BDF.”
Now that they have completed the first annual camp, these young men and women return home with a promotion –of sorts – they will now be senior cadets.
The BDF youth cadets return home on Saturday.
